SPRINGFIELD – To honor the legacies of indigenous people across the country, State Senator Scott Bennett’s (D-Champaign) proposal to make the month of November Native American Heritage Month in Illinois cleared the Senate Wednesday.

“I’m thrilled to see this legislation advance so we can pay tribute to those who laid the foundation for our country,” Bennett said. “Native Americans have a rich and diverse culture, and their contributions and influences deserve to be recognized.”

SPRINGFIELD – To improve transparency around prescription drug costs, State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) moved a measure through the Senate requiring pharmacies to post a notice informing consumers that they may request current pharmacy retail prices at the point of sale.

“Consumers deserve to know the lowest drug prices at their pharmacy so they can make an informed decision about where they buy their prescriptions,” Bennett said. “High prescription drug prices affect us all, and this legislation seeks to provide truth and transparency.”

Under Senate Bill 1682, pharmacies would be required to post a notice informing consumers that they may request current pharmacy retail prices. Customers would also be told the retail price of a prescription drug, both in writing and electronically, prior to purchase. 

SPRINGFIELD – Senate Higher Education Chair Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) moved a plan through the Senate Wednesday to improve the Illinois Higher Education Savings Program.

“This program helps children build a financially secure future from day one,” Bennett said. “This legislation would also give the Illinois treasurer the tools needed to implement the program to help eliminate barriers to families saving for college.”

In 2019, the Illinois Higher Education Savings Program, established as part of the Illinois treasurer’s existing Bright Start and Bright Directions programs, was signed into law. Under this law, the treasurer will automatically deposit $50 into a college savings account for every child born or adopted in Illinois after Dec. 31, 2020.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Scott Bennett’s (D-Champaign) measure to ensure property tax relief for spouses of veterans with disabilities passed the Senate Revenue Committee Wednesday.

“This tax relief is for military families who have sacrificed so much,” Bennett said. “This measure will ensure a surviving spouse can benefit from this exemption without having to go through a repetitive process.”

Senate Bill 1691 would allow the rights of a veteran applying for a homestead exemption to pass through to his or her spouse if the veteran passes away before the application is completed.

SPRINGFIELD – On Wednesday morning, State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) joined a press conference alongside State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria), Representative Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea) and Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly to discuss legislation to modernize Firearms Owner Identification cards in Illinois.

“Applications for Illinois FOID cards and concealed carry licenses have been backlogged for more than a year, and my office has received countless calls from constituents asking us to fix this problem so they can be compliant with the law,” Bennett said. “Together, we have formed a solution with the Illinois State Police that would help clear the backlog and speed up application processing.”

Senate Bill 1165, an initiative of the ISP, would create a prohibited persons portal to help law enforcement identify people whose FOID cards have been revoked, create a review board to respond to revocations and denials, and enact other changes to make the application and renewal process more efficient.

SPRINGFIELD – Senate Higher Education Committee Chair Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) moved a measure through the Senate Higher Education Committee Tuesday to help students make more informed choices about the loans they take out to pay for college and establish new accountability standards for private loan companies.

“The reward for higher education should not be a lifetime of debt,” Bennett said. “Students and families should be informed if they qualify for federal loans before they turn to private loans and the higher interest rates and fewer repayment options that go with them.”

Bennett introduced the Know Before You Owe Private Education Loan Act, which requires private lenders to confirm with a potential borrower’s school that the student’s tuition, housing and other costs are not covered by other sources of financial aid. Additionally, the legislation requires colleges and universities to notify students about their federal loan eligibility before certifying private loans.

Bennett worked closely with the Illinois attorney general’s office to craft the legislation.

“Private student loans are more expensive and more difficult for borrowers to repay. As we have seen during the pandemic, the relief that comes with federal student loans is particularly critical during an economic downturn,” Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said. “This legislation ensures that students and families are aware of the benefits of federal loans and whether they are eligible – before they take out private loans.”

“The Know Before You Owe initiative will ensure that students and their families know about their federal loan options before they take on private loans,” Bennett said. “I am proud to work with Attorney General Raoul on this initiative to give Illinois students more control over their financial futures.”

Senate Bill 2291 cleared the Senate Higher Education Committee and will now go before the full Senate for a vote.

CHAMPAIGN – April is Child Abuse Prevention Month in Illinois, and State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) is reminding Illinoisans what they can do to help prevent child abuse and neglect during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult for friends and neighbors to notice the signs of child abuse,” Bennett said. “It’s important that we continue to stay alert and notify the authorities with any suspicions of risk to a child’s safety.”

If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, you can call the Department of Children and Family Services’ Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-25-ABUSE (22873).

Hotline staff is working at full capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic and remains available to take calls 24 hours a day. Child abuse specialists continue to respond to hotline calls and assess child safety with face-to-face contact within 24 hours.

“We all have a responsibility to protect our children,” Bennett said. “If you suspect a child may be being abused, I strongly encourage you to call the hotline and make a report.”

If you have questions or need additional information, contact Bennett’s Champaign office at 217-355-5252 or his Danville office at 217-442-5252.

CHAMPAIGN – State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) is joining Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White to urge the public to conduct transactions online when possible instead of visiting a driver services facility.

“Using the secretary of state’s online services can not only save you a trip to the facility, but also cut down on crowds and reduce the time it takes for visitors who need to do business in person,” Bennett said. “Until more people in our community are vaccinated, I encourage all drivers to utilize the online portal when possible so we can protect the staff and each other from the spread of COVID-19.”

Online transactions can be conducted at the secretary of state’s website at www.cyberdriveillinois.com.

The secretary of state offers a wide range of services online, including purchasing license plate stickers and renewing driver’s licenses and ID cards.

To renew license plate stickers online, residents will need a registration ID and PIN, which are located on the renewal notice and registration card – which most people keep in their vehicle’s glove compartment. Vehicle owners may then visit www.cyberdriveillinois.com and click on “License Plates Renewal” under Online Services.

“My goal remains serving the public to the best of our ability during the pandemic, and reducing facility wait times while prioritizing the health and safety of customers and employees,” said Secretary of State Jesse White. “Those who conduct business online help shorten the line for those who must visit a facility.”

Bennett is also reminding motorists that all expired driver’s licenses and ID cards are now valid until Aug. 1, 2021. This extension does not apply to commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) and CDL learner’s permits.